Trucks, RVs are parking elsewhere

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Montgomery County motorists have been moving their commercial and recreational vehicles off county roads in residential areas after a new parking law went into effect July 1.

Montgomery County Police Capt. Thomas Didone, commander of the 5th District station, said he expects the remaining illegally parked vehicles to be moved soon or risk being towed. Didone said there is no formal policy for who gets towed. Police are targeting vehicles that have accumulated several citations or appear to be abandoned for towing, Didone said.

"We still have some vehicles straggling behind," Didone said. "I'm hoping people have found long-term parking for their vehicles, but time will tell."

The new parking law went into effect July 1 and called for $75 tickets to be issued to commercial and recreational vehicles weighing more than 10,000 pounds and more than 21 feet long and eight feet high.

Overall, Didone is impressed that so many people have moved their vehicles.

Eugenio Lucero of Germantown narrowly avoided having his tractor-trailer ticketed Monday as it was parked under a tree on Waring Station Road. Lucero, who parked long enough to get lunch from his home, said he uses his tractor trailer to give lessons to motorists trying to get their Commercial Driver's License.

"I have a parking spot in Damascus," Lucero said. "I have a place there to park my truck that I pay for."

Phillip Butler of Germantown said he understands the new parking law, but feels it doesn't give much of an option for alternate parking. Pointing out an illegally parked trailer across from his home on Appledower Way, Butler said "sometimes it can be hard to get your car by" trucks and trailers.